Sick/weak baby chickens

[FowlLove]

Good morning everyone! I am hoping someone has some thoughts about what might be going on with our flock.
We ordered 7 day-old Silkie chicks and they arrived a week ago. Right now we are down to 3 chicks. We are not sure if it is a disease or if most of the chicks we ordered had a rough start (since we shipped in cold weather/they are bantams). The "symptoms" seem to be weakness/lethargy, lack of coordination, and slow growth (the sick chickens are visibly smaller than the rest). The last one that we lost appeared to be eating/drinking normally but it's crop was not full and it was unusually small. The three we have left have not shown any concerning signs other than they seem to have a vibration-type tremor when we hold them (it is not because they are cold). The hatchery told us they suspected coccidiosis. We have put ACV in the water but we are not sure if there's anything else we can do to help them/if the ones left will be fine.

 

[BuffOrps32]

Good morning everyone! I am hoping someone has some thoughts about what might be going on with our flock.
We ordered 7 day-old Silkie chicks and they arrived a week ago. Right now we are down to 3 chicks. We are not sure if it is a disease or if most of the chicks we ordered had a rough start (since we shipped in cold weather/they are bantams). The "symptoms" seem to be weakness/lethargy, lack of coordination, and slow growth (the sick chickens are visibly smaller than the rest). The last one that we lost appeared to be eating/drinking normally but it's crop was not full and it was unusually small. The three we have left have not shown any concerning signs other than they seem to have a vibration-type tremor when we hold them (it is not because they are cold). The hatchery told us they suspected coccidiosis. We have put ACV in the water but we are not sure if there's anything else we can do to help them/if the ones left will be fine.

If it is Cocci you need to treat with Corrid. It sounds like a proper diagnosis.

 

[FowlLove]

If it is Cocci you need to treat with Corrid. It sounds like a proper diagnosis.

Ok. If these ones make it, would it be a problem to introduce them to our flock of adult chickens later on? I am worried that they might pass the disease to the healthy ones.

 

[BuffOrps32]

Ok. If these ones make it, would it be a problem to introduce them to our flock of adult chickens later on? I am worried that they might pass the disease to the healthy ones.

Unlikely if properly treated, I had rabbits exhibit similar problems and they aren’t fine now after I lost some

 

[chickens really]

Maybe your Brooder was too cold or too warm? What type of heat source are you using? What type of bedding?
Coccidiosis is treatable. All birds actually have it but when the numbers of the coccidiosis gets too high it causes issues. Young birds are more sensitive to an over load.
Bantam Chicks require more of a constant temperature..
Sorry your having to deal with this stressful situation..

 

[spryng]

I had two that were exhibiting those symptoms, lethargic and unsteady on their feet. I called the hatchery (cackle) they told me to put 1/3 cup ACV with mother in a quart of water to give them. Use a dropper if they aren't drinking themselves and give them boiled egg yolk mashed up to help build their immune system, so I did and within a few hours they were perking up and last night those two were running around and keeping up with the rest of the chicks. I thought 1/3 cup acv seemed like a lot but apparently it works. They said use 3-5 days on all the chicks just to help them acclimate and build immunity.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good morning everyone! I am hoping someone has some thoughts about what might be going on with our flock.
We ordered 7 day-old Silkie chicks and they arrived a week ago. Right now we are down to 3 chicks. We are not sure if it is a disease or if most of the chicks we ordered had a rough start (since we shipped in cold weather/they are bantams). The "symptoms" seem to be weakness/lethargy, lack of coordination, and slow growth (the sick chickens are visibly smaller than the rest). The last one that we lost appeared to be eating/drinking normally but it's crop was not full and it was unusually small. The three we have left have not shown any concerning signs other than they seem to have a vibration-type tremor when we hold them (it is not because they are cold). The hatchery told us they suspected coccidiosis. We have put ACV in the water but we are not sure if there's anything else we can do to help them/if the ones left will be fine.

Ok. If these ones make it, would it be a problem to introduce them to our flock of adult chickens later on? I am worried that they might pass the disease to the healthy ones.

Can you post some photos or a video of your chicks and brooder (poop too) - for video upload to youtube and provide a link.

How soon after they arrived did they start dying? I would lean toward it being from shipping stress and these are Bantam Silkies too.
Coccidiosis has an incubation period of anywhere to 5-14 days depending on the strain. It's possible that young they could be suffering from that, but the vibration/tremors is concerning, that sounds neurological. I would get some Vitamin E into them along with a little egg for Selenium. Are they eating well? Can they pick up food o.k. sometimes very tiny chicks have a hard time with even small crumbles, so you can make them a wet mash out or their starter.


On another note...the hatchery may know something we don't, so-
If you called the hatchery and they said it was suspected Coccidiosis, then you would want to treat with Corid. Do you have any? You can find that at Tractor Supply in the cattle section. Dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water. Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period.

 

[FowlLove]

Maybe your Brooder was too cold or too warm? What type of heat source are you using? What type of bedding?
Coccidiosis is treatable. All birds actually have it but when the numbers of the coccidiosis gets too high it causes issues. Young birds are more sensitive to an over load.
Bantam Chicks require more of a constant temperature..
Sorry your having to deal with this stressful situation..

I think it may have been too cold. Yesterday we switched to a 250 watt heat lamp because we were worried it wasn't warm enough (I can't remember how many watts the last one was) and we switched from paper towels to pine shavings for bedding for warmth as well... Right now they are all doing good and no signs of being weak

 

[chickens really]

I think it may have been too cold. Yesterday we switched to a 250 watt heat lamp because we were worried it wasn't warm enough (I can't remember how many watts the last one was) and we switched from paper towels to pine shavings for bedding for warmth as well... Right now they are all doing good and no signs of being weak

That's good news...Yes they require a consistent temperature those tiny babies will suffer. Pasty butt is also a concern.

 

[FowlLove]

Can you post some photos or a video of your chicks and brooder (poop too) - for video upload to youtube and provide a link.

How soon after they arrived did they start dying? I would lean toward it being from shipping stress and these are Bantam Silkies too.
Coccidiosis has an incubation period of anywhere to 5-14 days depending on the strain. It's possible that young they could be suffering from that, but the vibration/tremors is concerning, that sounds neurological. I would get some Vitamin E into them along with a little egg for Selenium. Are they eating well? Can they pick up food o.k. sometimes very tiny chicks have a hard time with even small crumbles, so you can make them a wet mash out or their starter.


On another note...the hatchery may know something we don't, so-
If you called the hatchery and they said it was suspected Coccidiosis, then you would want to treat with Corid. Do you have any? You can find that at Tractor Supply in the cattle section. Dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water. Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period.
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We are going to get the Corid today..what do you recommend for the vitamin E?